Nuclear waste warnings (was: Archiving language...)

Costentin Cornomorus wrote at 2003-12-27 10:45:14 (-0800)
 > --- Tim May <butsuri@...>
 > wrote:
 >
 > > Did they?
 >
 > They certainly held no great esteem for many
 > American natives!

Who they insisted could not be responsible for the pyramids, for the
most part.

 > > As long as they're aware of the concept of an invisible force
 > > that causes sickness and death which emanates from certain places
 > > and materials, then they can in principle be made to understand
 > > that that's what they're being warned away from.
 >
 > Ancient superstition!

Not if radiation is a known factor elsewhere, which is likely if
there's been a nuclear war.  Which is the situation we were
discussing, there.

 > > They don't necessarily
 > > need to understand the physical processes
 > > involved.
 >
 > Of course, but this presumes that they're simply
 > willing to let things lie. Human history should
 > teach us one thing: people don't let things lie!

Please don't put words in my mouth.  Of course no system can be
perfect, and I said as much not two mails ago.  The fact remains that
if you're burying a large quantity of radioactive material which will
be highly toxic for over 10,000 years*, it's reasonable to mark it with
some kind of durable warning, and to make this work on as many levels
as possible.

* The wisdom of this first step is, certainly, debatable.

Replies